Yuck

When does it happen that you no longer know what you look like? How can you think one way in your head and see something else in a photo? I saw a photo of myself lately and it is not what I see in the mirror everyday. How can that be? I no longer want to tag any photos of myself on fb. I no longer even want my photo taken. Yuck. I'll let you know when I do something about what I am seeing.

Sharing one of my favorite pictures with you

This is a picture of Trey.

He is watching the basketball game and seems to be enjoying it.

The effect done to this photo is called neon.

A Teenager now lives in my house

Happy Birthday Kara!

Time goes by so fast even though you don't realize it now. Seems like yesterday you were entertaining us all at a little two year old. You commanded the attention of all those around you. As you face these teenage years, hold tight to the things we have taught you. Here a few verses to remember along the way.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10 NIV

5KFVS RUN / WALK

Did you read the title? Yep, I'm doing a 5K walk (no way am I running). The money raised goes to a good cause and I need some good motivation to help me get some exercise. So this is a win-win for me. Providing I don't pull a muscle or anything like that.

The event will be held downtown Cape Girardeau on May 22, 2010 at 8:30 am. There is a $20 entry fee. Plus you get a t-shirt and a goody bag. What more could you want?

Here is a link to sign up:

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=10014838

Lani Singing LOVE SONG

New Healthcare Bill

A bid to offer health insurance to an estimated 32 million Americans who are uninsured and improve the coverage of those with insurance was signed today by our President.

At an estimated cost of $940 billion over 10 years, supported in part by additional taxes on the wealthiest Americans, the legislation is projected to offer coverage to some 32 million uninsured people.

This bill would require most individuals to buy health insurance, offer federal subsidies to help pay premiums, impose penalties on employers that don't offer affordable polices and create a new insurance marketplace of exchanges for people with employer-supported coverage.

The law will take effect gradually. A series of modest changes kicks in this year — tax credits to help small businesses purchase insurance for their employees, a $250 prescription drug rebate for seniors on Medicare who have hit a gap in their coverage, and a ban on excluding children from coverage because of preexisting conditions.

In addition, insurers would be prevented from denying coverage based on preexisting medical conditions or setting any lifetime cap on the benefits that they pay. Young adults also will be allowed to remain on their parents' plans longer, until they are 27 years old.

Next year, senior citizens enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs could face reductions. These programs provide private coverage through Medicare and have become very popular because they tend to be less expensive than the combination of Medicare prescription coverage and Medigap policies, which supplement Medicare.

Federal reimbursement for such programs will freeze in 2012, and insurers warn that they would have to reduce benefits, and that some plans will eventually disappear.

Democrats and Obama plan to devote the next few months to making sure consumers understand its benefits - immediate (insurance regulation) and in the future (insurance purchasing exchanges); concrete (closing the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage) and abstract (sense of security).

The least popular tax in the bill, a 40 percent levy on high-cost health insurance plans, will not take effect until 2018.

After reading site after site, I am still trying to make my mind up about this whole thing. I am not for bigger government and yet I know something has to be done with our health insurance system. I am not sure the government can help. I cannot say of too many things that the government does better than the American people. I will be watching and waiting to see how this all plays out.


**I have taken clips of different paragraphs from articles to help piece all this together. These are not all my own words. Just wanted to make that clear.

LOVE THE DVR

I would say I watch too much TV but with having a DVR really allows me to watch only the shows I want to see. Here are a few of the shows I record every week.

The Big Bang Theory

American Idol

Desperate Housewives

YELLING LIKE A CRAZY PERSON

When did I become that woman? When did I become a yeller? I am not a yeller. I can say things without yelling, right? THEN WHY I AM YELLING?! WHY ARE PEOPLE MAKING ME YELL AT THEM?!


This morning as I was yelling at someone, my inner self was saying "You have turned into that crazy person." I believe that thought came just as I saw spit fly out of my mouth. Sure, I could rationalize it and say that THEY are making me yell. But that is just a cop out.


I don't yell at everyone. Mainly just the people that live in my house. Maybe, that is because I am completely myself with them. Maybe it is because I love them so much. However, I'm not sure how much love they are actually feeling when I'm yelling.


I know a lady who is a lot like the Dugger woman from TV. You know the show 55 and counting...okay it's not 55 and Counting but I hope you get my point. She can talk to her family in that loving sweet tone even after she has told the same child to go get his homework for the 3rd time. I actually know a lady that speaks like this. Somehow, she doesn't loose her cool. I don't think I could ever be completely like that but it is a good thing to strive for.


So here is to no more yelling today. Tomorrow will be another matter.

RECOVERING SKINNY PERSON

This is a new club I have joined.

We are looking for new members.

Taxes...(yeah)

I have finally put all of my pertain tax information and papers in my 2009 Tax folder and I have delivered it to my new tax man. I now have a tax man! Great, right? I have always done my taxes myself. Okay, maybe not by myself but with the assistance of my dad. This year "might" be a little more complicated due to the sale of home and then a purchase of another home. I don't think I qualify for the $6500 tax credit for Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyers. I'm slightly hoping this new tax man tells me I'm wrong and that someone how read it all wrong and that I do qualify but I'm afraid that is wishful thinking.

Now I wait for the phone call from my tax man asking for some clarification on a few things and then for that final phone call saying "You are getting a BIG refund!" Oh, how I want that to be true!!

Happy Tax Season People. Peace Out.

www.ESTY.com

Here are a few things I found on ESTY.com that I like....

LOST ..tonights episode "Lighthouse"

Since I am the one writing this BLOG and I am probably the only one who reads it, I have decided to blog about LOST again. Every Tuesday night I am excited about LOST coming on. I go online and read ew.com they have some great LOST comments and columns. They have some good video and thoughts as to what "might be". So as I watch LOST tonight, I thought I would just write down a few thoughts. So here goes....

• Does sideways Jack know where that scar came from?
• Have we heard from Jack's mom before? I don't remember.
• Ahaaaaa...Jack doesn't remember getting that scar.
• Jack has a kid. Nice.
• Tic Tac Toe...fun times.
• There is Jacob.
• Do they have pens at the temple? Where do they keep those kinds of things?
• I wonder if Jack is divorced..and from whom?
• Tell Syaid...he deserves to know. Good job Jack.
• Clair is tough.
• I like Hurley. Hurley is funny too.
• "You have what it takes." I don't know what that means. I'm sure I have seen it in a previous episode.
• How does that dude know Claire and what did she do to make him think that. I know about the "dark force" that grows but I want details.
• Kate is not invited? and we didn't see Kate's number. hmmm
• Jack's mom has her own plastic surgeon.
• Say yes Jin, say yes.
• I don't think I like this Clair.
• Hurley thought Kate and Jack could be Adam & Eve too.
• Now we see Adam and Eve!!!!
• I like what Hurley is saying. The Adam and Eve thing is weird.
• Oh Crap. Where is David? Now we will find out who his mother is.
• Jack is still driving that same jeep. He's a doctor right? Making a doctors salary.
• Hurley is asking a lot of questions.
• Season one we love Jack...this season is making you love Jack again.
• Let him go Clair. Please.
• Oh, she didn't. Wow. Watch out Kate. Here she comes for you.
• Wow...even temple guy is in sideways world. Does temple guy know about the island?
• Okay, what is up with the lighthouse?
• Yes, Jack. He has been watching you all. You are right. We all want to know why he was watching you all.
• We don't want you to smash it!! Don't Jack. You did Jack. Not cool and Hurley knows it.
• Jack doesn't remember being into his son's piano playing.
• Jack's dad said ..."you don't have what it takes"....wow. Now we know what that means (or at least they reminded us.)
• Jacob is screwing with these people.
• ???
• Jin is trying to save his own life, is that the plan?
• Oh crap...Flocke is here. (Fake Locke) I knew he was Clair's friend.

I will be reading ew.com tomorrow to get another person's take on it. Good episode. I love LOST.

FLAVOR AID

Our first cooking lesson together...well sorta. We did step by step instructions on how to make some Flavor Aid!!!! My kids loved it. It doesn't take too much to have a fun time together.

..pouring in the sugar..

..pouring in the sugar..

..both pouring in the flavor aid..

..both stirring..
..now drink up and enjoy!

A few things I like as I surf the net...

I like this little seating area. I think something like this would look good in my master bedroom. My walls in my room are chocolate brown so I like the light colors of it all and maybe using a green or turquoise as the accent colors would be great.

This is a very inviting living room. I like how the green plant makes you feel and how comfy the loveseat looks. Looks clean to me. I am surprised that I actually like this room because when I look at each piece by themselves, I'm not sure I would pick them out. But all together, they look great.

These accessories are cute and would good in my bathroom. They would help give the room a little color. I wonder where I can find some like them. Hummmm....

This is painted paneling that has been striped. I like how it looks and it doesn't just make you think of painted paneling. I have a HUGE room at my house with paneling that need to be tackled. This is a good idea.

Did I tell you I am a LOST fan?

I'm sure I have spoke of it before. Yesterday was the last season first episode of LOST. No one was really excited at my house about it but me. I'm happy the rest of the family humors me and plays along like they are happy.

LOST has been telling us all summer that they will be answering all the questions that LOST has thrown out there for us. We did get a big answer last night. There has been a "smoke monster" on the island since season one but we had no idea what it really was. Well, in episode one, season six, the writers filled us in. So I wonder now what other answers they will fill us in on. Watching this season might be more exciting than all other seasons because we will have several "OHHHHH" moments. Like the light will kick on for us LOST fans. We will understand more and more about the characters and the island. We will understand the whys and hows. It's like putting a puzzle together and being satisfied when you are done. So LOST, writers...Don't disappoint us.

The Smoke Monster